Ceremony reaffirms partnership
promoting Māori health
A longstanding partnership promoting Māori
health across the Bay of Plenty has been
reaffirmed in an official ceremony. of providers, other bodies and organisations, but ours is clearly
identifiable as solely iwi and it is representative from the east to
the west of the Bay. Because of that we have forged a governance
relationship and it is a very important thing.”
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the continuing
spirit of the relationship between the Bay of Plenty District
Health Board (BOPDHB) Board and the Māori Health Rūnanga
(representing the Bay’s 18 iwi) was signed recently. The signing
ceremony took place at Te Puke’s Hei Marae. The Rūnanga meets monthly, has joint meetings with the
BOPDHB Board every three months and, as Rūnanga Chair, Ms
McCausland also participates in all BOPDHB Board meetings.
Rūnanga Chair Punohu McCausland says the reaffirmation of an
already strong relationship was a significant event.
“It is a significant event because it is a significant relationship,” she
says. “As a Rūnanga we have direct participation and a say in the
strategic direction of the DHB, sitting alongside the Board. We get
information directly from our iwi and then we, as delegates, bring
that to the Board. It is a relationship which has been built up over
many years and it is a great one.
BOPDHB Board Chair Sally Webb said the MOU represented a
commitment to working together for improved Māori health.
“We can’t make a difference working alone, if we’re going to make
a difference in Māori health in the Bay of Plenty we need to work
with the iwi to do that,” she says. “Signing this MOU is all about
cementing that relationship with the 18 iwi, to continue working
together so that we can all have healthy thriving communities.”
Mrs Webb says this is the third such agreement signed since
1989, with each one building on its predecessor.
“This is the only DHB that has a treaty relationship with just the
iwi. Other boards have relationships which include a broad range
Togetherness: Māori Health Rūnanga Chair Punohu McCausland (left) and BOPDHB Board Chair Sally Webb (right) having just signed the
Memorandum of Understanding.
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